5 th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul

1. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul WASH in Schools - Scaling up water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education in Schools Dr.Roy Kunjappy EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH RESEARCH (CCHR) SADANATHIL BUNGALOW, VETTIKAVALA, KOTTARAKARA, KERALA- 691 538, INDIA E-mail: roycchr@satyam.net.in Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

2. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Global & Indian Scenario on Water and Sanitation • Globally,1200 million people lack access to safe water. In India, 125 million people lack access to safe water. • At the global level it was recently estimated that 2600 million people defecate in the open. In India, 700 million people lack access to sanitation facilities & resort to defecate in the open. • Diarrhoea claims the lives of 2 million children around the world every year. While one million children in India die of diarrhoeal diseases each year directly as a result of drinking unsafe water and living in unhygienic conditions. • According to a UNICEF Report in 2006, 2.1 million under five years died in India, ie., one-fifth of the world’s total. Whereas in China it was 4,15,000 ie., 0.42 million. Diarrhoea, pneumonia, malnutrition and poor neonatal care are among the major causes of child deaths in the region. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

3. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul The health profile of Kerala State • The health profile of Kerala State is reported to be low mortality-high morbidity syndrome. • The dominant disease group comprises diarrhoeal diseases, gastroenteritis, dysentery, cholera, infectious hepatitis, malaria, worm diseases, japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, weils disease and chikungunya were identified as the common water-borne and water-related diseases in the area • It was further observed that lack of protected water supply and toilet facilities, accumulation of solid waste, and poor hygiene practices were found to be the major risk factors of high water-borne morbidity in the region. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

4. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • In this context, WASH Coalition in Kerala in collaboration with its stakeholders launched a programme in selected schools in 4 Southern Districts of Kerala State (India) called "WASH in Schools" with an objective for better hygiene behavior and healthy environment in schools. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

5. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Objectives: • To provide better hygiene behavior and healthy environment in schools in order to improve the quality of life of the future generation. • Schools are the ideal places of learning for children and they have a crucial role in the process of community development. Schools can be able to stimulate children for a behavior change. If there is adequate facilities on enough safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools, children as well as teachers can act as role models of the society. This will definitely influence the communities for a better change in their attitude and approach. That was the psychology behind this initiative. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

6. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Dissemination of knowledge at grass-root level is important for a change in the attitude of the people. So schools are the best place for a start. • Try to implement environmental awareness/school sanitation/hygiene in school syllabus for a healthy school environment. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

7. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Area of coverage and target population • Selected Schools in 4 Southern Districts (Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Allapuzha) of Kerala are selected for the implementation of this programme as Phase- 1. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

8. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Study design/implementation strategy and the machinery for execution of the project. • Basically, WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene for all) in Schools is a collective effort by the stakeholders of the sector including students, Parent-Teachers Associations (PTAs), NSS (National Service Scheme), School Administrators, Local self-governments (Panchayats), NGOs, self-help groups and other grass-root organisations. WASH in Schools is a mass movement as part of the Global WASH Campaign. Hence, the programme is a sustainable model for better hygiene behaviour and healthy environment in schools. WASH-coalition (net-work of organisations) in the State of Kerala have a crucial role in the implementation process. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

9. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Implementation schedule • Duration of the Project: The project consists of two phases. The Phase-1 of the project will be completed with in few months. The Phase-2 of the project will be launched shortly in order to intensify activities in other districts of Kerala Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

10. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Key activities: • Awareness camps, symposia, children congress, water quiz, competitions, rallies, will be conducted in all selected schools as part of “WASH in schools”. • WASH posters/Charts will exhibit and display in all selected schools. Further to prepare new awareness materials for WASH in Schools. • To constitute "WASH school committees" and "Eco-clubs" with the co-operation and participation of pupils, teachers, parent-teachers association (PTA), school administrators and other stakeholders. • Monitoring and evaluation will be carried out on drinking water status, health status, sanitary status and hygiene behavior of children as well as the local communities through an epidemiological survey in respective areas. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

11. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Simple disinfection methods of dug wells and available water for drinking will be demonstrated to children in order to reduce water-borne morbidity. • Intensive awareness will be given to mosquito eradication and school children will be part of this drive. Further, awareness will be given to children on various aspects of safe and clean drinking water, water contamination, disease transmission, waste disposal, sanitary latrine, impact of open defecation and water-borne diseases, mosquito menace, hand washing, sanitary wells, hand pumps, ORS/SSS, Household Centered Environmental Sanitation (HCES), food hygiene and many. • To propagate various rainwater harvesting techniques and other methods of water conservation. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

12. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Parent-teachers associations (PTAs), school administrators, Panchayats (PRIs), elected representatives and other local stakeholders will take the responsibilities for the construction of water supply and sanitary facilities in the respective schools. • Building the capacity of local stakeholders considered as one of the most important element for the successful implementation of the programme. Training modules on safe use of drinking water, decent sanitation, safe disposal of solid and liquid waste, and best hygiene practices will be provided to the stakeholders of the programme. • Try to implement environmental awareness/school sanitation/hygiene education in school syllabus for a healthy school environment. • To design and produce a Handbook and a Resource book for schoolteachers for the safe use of drinking water, school sanitation and hygiene education. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

13. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Details of Few WASH Materials • Sanitation – ways within our means: This illustrates various aspects of a “clean village” and a “unclean village”. The clean village is depicted as the “heaven on the earth” whereas the unclean village as the “hell on the earth”. • Simple practices for a healthy life: This poster illustrates various means of hygiene promotion for a healthy life. Depiction of key hygiene behaviours include water handling, personal hygiene, safe disposal of human faeces, food hygiene, safe disposal of animal and solid waste, safe disposal of liquid waste and village sanitation. In water handling, pictures to explain the importance of a safe water source for drinking water collection, keeping of water containers in home and the necessity of a ladle/tap/tilt to pour drinking water in order to avoid dipping hands in water. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

14. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • The Facts and the Solutions:In this section, there is a comparison of Global and Indian scenario on safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and health. • Timely Action Saves Lives – Treat Dehydration With ORS/SSS:Various pictures of this poster to explain how to prepare ORS and Sugar Salt Solution (SSS). • Hand Washing –Washing away germs, preventing diseases:Hands are the body’s feeders and cleaners and helping to eat and keep the bodies clean, including defecation. If hands do not wash at critical times, particularly after handling human faeces, fecal germs can be transmitted, leading to diarrhoeal diseases. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

15. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Kitchen Gardens:This session demonstrates uses of waste water from households and other sources for generating nutritious food. Pools of stagnant wastewater are the breeding grounds for mosquitoes that are the carries of many lives threatening diseases. • Faecal – oral Transmission Route: Depictions on faecal-oral transmission route are faeces, flies/pet animals, fields, fluids (water), fingers and food. Illustrations are given to block the faecal-oral transmission route include using of toilet, proper hand washing, using safe water source and good handling practices, and adopting good food hygiene practices etc. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

16. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Our Children are the future. Can we afford to exclude them:This is a message to the society and all stakeholders of the sector that children are the future and it is the responsibility of all to prevent the death of 2 million children every year due to water-borne diseases. • Who is responsible? - “We” :Finally, the depiction on who is responsible for the pitiful situation on water, sanitation and health illustrates that nobody other than “we” are responsible to manage, maintain and operate the system. Capacity building by providing proper training will create an ideal situation for the problems. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

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22. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Hand written Children’s Magazine “Water Voice” Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

23. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Water Rally (Jalarally) Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

24. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Outcome:variables/performance indicators. • It was observed considerable improvement in the hygiene behavior of school children and improvement in the sanitary and drinking water facilities in schools (as per the survey report). • Environmental awareness in the minds of the children create a sense of responsibility for a healthy environment not only in schools but also in households and finally in the society as a whole. • Best practices and experiences found to be replicated and propagate in other areas. • It was found be a model of dissemination of knowledge at grass-root for a behaviour change. • Resource Book, WASH posters and other materials in Malayalam (regional language) found to be valuable materials for future course of action in other places. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

25. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • Building the capacity of all stakeholders may create a new momentum in the society on WASH movement (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all). • Advocacy at local level may lead to a policy change at the State and National level with strong stakeholder participation ( eg. Projects on School Health project/Hygiene education by the local State Govt.) • Information utilization found to be a good tool for further course of action. Web-site information on various activities will be able to use for future activities and follow-ups. • A momentum created at all levels that “all children have a right to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and information on hygiene”. • Steps are being taken at the State (local) level in order to incorporated environmental awareness/school sanitation/hygiene education for a healthy school environment in school curriculum . • “WASH in School” programme in Kerala won the prestigious Palathully Award (UNESCO Award programme) of Malayala Manorama- the National Daily in India. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

26. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Key recommendations based on the lessons so far learned from Kerala on WASH in Schools • Partnerships with governments, donors, community-based organisations (CBOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), teachers, children and school administrators are essential elements to achieve the sustainability of school sanitation and hygiene education programmes. • To highlight the duty of all stakeholders to convey the message that “children are effective agents of change and schools are the ideal places of learning for children; and that they have a crucial role in the process of community development” • All children have a right to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and information on hygiene. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

27. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul • To support efforts to implement environmental awareness/school sanitation/hygiene education in school syllabus for a healthy school environment. • Capacity building is needed at all levels. • Strengthening school based monitoring systems. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

28. 5th World Water Forum-2009, Istanbul Social or economic relevance of the project • The environmental health interventions are regulatory in nature, and benefit accrued are indirect. They are exclusively preventive and benefits can be realised over a long period. The environmental health interventions also potentially convey considerable non-health socio-economic benefits. • Apart from other conventional initiatives, "WASH in Schools" in Kerala found to be a sustainable model with sectoral co-operation; and children are found to be the agents of change. Centre for Community Health Research (CCHR), Kerala, India

29. Thank You